They may suffer emotional and mental consequences simply by witnessing a traumatic event. To experience trauma, a child doesn't always have to be in physical danger.

If left untreated, post-traumatic stress disorder can cause problems for people in adulthood. While PTSD goes away with time for many children, it can last a lifetime for others.

Factors that increase the chance of a child developing this disorder include trauma severity, the child's closeness to the event, and how the parents or loved ones react to the event. PTSDĪfter a traumatic event, some children can develop PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). However, some children, such as those who face regular trauma, carry the effects into adulthood. Many children who face a traumatic event return to normal after some time, especially if they receive the proper support. The immediate effects of childhood trauma include: For example, kids who live in poverty are at a higher risk of facing violence and experiencing traumatic losses. Race, ethnicity, and family income significantly affect a child's risk of trauma exposure. Meanwhile, 25–43% of children are exposed to sexual abuse. Statistics² show that between 39 and 85% of children witness community violence. Threatens injury, death, or harm to the child or people around themĬauses horror, terror, and helplessness when it occurs Dislike of “neediness”: In addition to not wanting to rely on others, people who are hyper-independent may resent or resist others relying on them.Childhood trauma is a consequence a child experiences after exposure to a traumatic event.Stress or burnout: Because hyper-independent people struggle with delegating or asking for help when they need it, they often take on more than they can handle, leading to heightened stress or even burnout symptoms.Few close or long-term relationships: Because they are unable to open up to other people, it can be difficult for hyper-independent people to form and maintain friendships and romantic relationships.Mistrust of other people: Sometimes, a person is hyper-independent because they worry that others will let them down or betray their trust.

Secretiveness: Those who are hyper-independent will often keep to themselves or be reluctant to share personal information that could be used against them.

Guardedness in relationships: Close relationships are interdependent by nature, and a person who is hyper-independent will struggle to let their walls down and let the other person in.

Refusing to delegate or ask for help: Hyper-independent people will struggle to ask others to help them when they are overwhelmed, or they will be unable to pass tasks on to someone else.

Over-achieving: People who are hyper-independent may over-commit to work or personal projects to the point that they are unable to manage the load themselves.

Signs in adults of childhood trauma